Reflections on Freedom of Speech and the First Amendment

Governments throughout history have struggled to define the boundaries of theright to freedom of speech. Even though the United States explicitlyarticulates fre... » 

Governments throughout history have struggled to define the boundaries of theright to freedom of speech. Even though the United States explicitlyarticulates freedom of speech in the First Amendment to the Constitution thejudicial branch frequently reinterprets the amendment by allowing laws to limitthat freedom. In Reflections on Freedom of Speech and the First Amendmentnoted legal theorist George Anastaplo details the history and intellectualfoundations of freedom of speech using examples from Socrates Jesus and SirThomas More to demonstrate how freedom of speech has evolved over centuries.Anastaplo pays particular attention to freedom of speech as it relates to theU.S. Constitution and he describes potential First Amendment issues such ascases involving the Internet. Anastaplo provides an indepth look at acontroversial issue and he defines freedom of speech in precise terms for bothscholars and those interested in one of our most cherished rights. «